Shortly after I founded Amulets by Merlin in the 1980s, I was commissioned with a project: to develop a piece combining the two basic images used in the Sun and Star cards of Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot Deck. In the Sun card the main focus is the Sunflower: a common symbol harnessed in many other Tarot Decks, but this one was special: twelve segments, each divided into two aspects. This represents the houses of the Zodiac divided into their active and passive principals. In Crowley’s deck he also used the seven pointed star to symbolize the the Star Card: associated with Tazaddi (a Hebrew letter) often considered in Qabalah as “the fish Hook”, meaning the process of meditation is akin to lowering a “mental fish hook” plunged into the depths of the Great Unconsciousness (Akesha).

Combining the aspects of these two ideas produces the simultaneous process of seeing all of creation in all of it’s glory and yet being “passive” enough to understand it’s subtleties.

The dear Lady suggested I place this in my line of jewelry so the virtues of the piece may spread to others. This I have done and so I present to you one of my first commissions and amulets in my line:The Sunflower Amulet